On Saturday, Chicago will host a 90th-birthday party for Route 66 near the eastern terminus of the Mother Road. According to Time Out Chicago, the Illinois Office of Tourism will throw up a pop-up birthday party for Route 66 on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Chicago, near Michigan Avenue, where the historic highway begins. The nearby Bow Truss coffee shop … Continue reading Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday
Category: Events
Jim Jones honored by Illinois Route 66 Association
Jim Jones, a longtime volunteer at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum with a longtime personal history with Route 66 in Odell, Illinois, recently was honored with the President's Award by the Illinois Route 66 Association. According to this news release from Ellie Alexander, director of tourism in Pontiac, Illinois: In making the … Continue reading Jim Jones honored by Illinois Route 66 Association
Route 66 exhibit at Missouri History Museum begins today
The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis begins today its "Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis" exhibit through July 16, 2017. The museum sits at 5700 Lindell Blvd. (map here) in Forest Park. The Route 66 show has free admission. Here's one of the images displayed at the show, of the Chain of Rocks Bridge in 1929, shortly after it opened: The … Continue reading Route 66 exhibit at Missouri History Museum begins today
Scenes from Rockabilly on the Route
Frank Kocevar, former owner of the Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, put together this video from the recent Rockabilly on the Route festival in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Longtime Route 66 aficionados probably will recognize a few faces here. Rockabilly - 2016 Tucumcari, New Mexico from Route 66 Experience on Vimeo. The Quay County Sun … Continue reading Scenes from Rockabilly on the Route
Michael Wallis to give “state of the road” speech at Vinita festival
Michael Wallis, writer of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road" and more than a dozen other books, will give a "State of the Mother Road" speech June 18 during the Vinita Route 66 Festival in Vinita, Oklahoma. Wallis long was known for his fiery "state of the road" speeches with his big, baritone voice during … Continue reading Michael Wallis to give “state of the road” speech at Vinita festival
Jensen’s Point near Pacific reopens
The historic Jensen's Point that overlooks Route 66 near Pacific, Missouri, reopened last weekend, almost 25 years after it had been closed to the public. According to a blog post for the Washington Missourian: The landmark is now a Pacific city park and will be preserved for future generations to enjoy. There is a paved parking … Continue reading Jensen’s Point near Pacific reopens
What will happen to Gathering of Nations?
Organizers for the annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow are looking for a new venue -- including in other states -- after the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque recently canceled its contract after 30 years of hosting the event. Gathering of Nations was one of the biggest annual events in Albuquerque, and it commonly was included … Continue reading What will happen to Gathering of Nations?
Springfield, Missouri, sees boom in hotel business
Springfield, Missouri, is experiencing a boom in hotel business so far in 2016, and it appears one big reason for it is Route 66. According to the KY3 station in town: The Convention and Visitors bureau says the number of visitors so far...and the number of hotel rooms occupied, has surpassed last year. Tracy Kimberlin … Continue reading Springfield, Missouri, sees boom in hotel business
Who’s going to the European Route 66 Festival?
I have two questions for my American readers. Are you going to the first-ever European Route 66 Festival near Stuttgart, Germany, on July 15-17? If so, are you going under the auspices of a certain organization? If any of those are a "yes," please elaborate in the comments section. Those questions came to mind when I learned … Continue reading Who’s going to the European Route 66 Festival?
Volunteers needed for photo shoot at Meramec River bridge
Route 66 fans and preservationists are asked to show up at the Route 66 State Park office near Eureka, Missouri, this weekend for a photo shoot at the Meramac River Route 66 Bridge for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's ongoing "This Place Matters" campaign. The session will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14. … Continue reading Volunteers needed for photo shoot at Meramec River bridge